Highlights
January is Folic Acid Awareness Month. Folic acid is a B vitamin that is good for women’s health. Every woman needs folic acid to help form the healthy new cells the body makes daily. Think about your skin, hair, and nails. These―and other parts of the body–make new cells each day. Taking folic acid daily also helps prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine if you decide to become pregnant or get pregnant before you are ready. Here are some helpful tips for making sure you are getting the proper amount of folic acid daily: Take a…Read more
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages everyone to test their homes for radon, especially during the winter when levels are at their highest and people spend more time indoors with windows and doors closed tightly. Radon, an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in general. Unsafe levels of radon can lead to serious illness and it is estimated that radon in indoor air causes nearly 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. In Virginia, an estimated 670 people (3.19%…Read more
Birth Defects Prevention Month
January is Birth Defects Prevention Month. Not all birth defects can be prevented, but a woman can increase her own chance of having a healthy baby by taking certain steps. Many birth defects happen very early in pregnancy, sometimes before a woman even knows she is pregnant: remember that about half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Here are some steps a woman can take to get ready for a healthy pregnancy: Take a vitamin with 400 micrograms (mcg) folic acid every day. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and street drugs. Keep hands clean by washing them often with soap and water to…Read more
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January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Cervical cancer is a highly preventable and treatable cancer, thanks to improved screening and vaccination. According to the US Preventive Services Task Force, cervical cancer screening should start at age 21. Screening can identify changes in the cells of the cervix that could lead to cancer. Screening might include a…Read more
State Health Commissioner Comments on Opioid Addiction Declaration
These remarks were delivered on November 21, 2016 at 10am Good morning. This is Dr. Marissa Levine, Virginia State Health Commissioner here with key state agency colleagues for an important announcement about the opioid addiction crisis in Virginia. Thank you for joining us this morning. We are here today in the shadow of the Surgeon General’s…Read more